POLICE were alerted to a standoff in a Caversham Park Village street almost an hour before a man was shot, it was revealed today.

POLICE were alerted to a standoff in a Caversham Park Village street almost an hour before a man was shot, it was revealed today.

A father-of-three is fighting for his life in hospital after losing a kidney and half his liver after he was shot in the chest at 3am on Sunday in Farleigh Mews.

Detectives believe it followed a row over a minicab fare.

However a minicab firm had dialled 999 at 2.11am after its driver complained his car was being attacked.

There were not enough officers available to respond to the dispute in Farleigh Mews, police spokeswoman Sian Hickman said today.

Police did not reach the scene until after neighbours reported a gunshot about 50 minutes later. It was then they found the 39-year-old victim. Four men arrested on Sunday over the shooting have been released on police bail.

A man working for the minicab firm said: "This should never have happened.

"The police were called but they didn't show up, it's as simple as that."

Police spokeswoman Sian Hickman

confirmed a minicab firm had made the emergency call. She said: "We received a call after 2am reporting a minicab driver had suffered criminal damage to his vehicle, but we didn't have the resources to attend. Unfortunately the events of the evening overtook us."

She added operators continued to check whether there were available officers to go to the driver's aid.

Detectives are waiting to speak to the man, who was this morning under sedation in Royal Berkshire Hospital. His condition is described as serious but stable.

Detectives believe the victim caught a cab home with his wife, brother and his girlfriend from a family party in Woodley.

Miss Hickman said: "It is believed there was an altercation with the minicab

driver over the fare. This was then

followed by a second larger altercation, involving a number of people.

"It resulted in neighbours calling 999 at 3am reporting what they believed were gunshots being fired."

Superintendent Dilip Amin, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have been working closely with a number of agencies and organisations to ensure this investigation is dealt with thoroughly and sensitively, to the benefit of all people involved.

"At the end of the day we have a man who suffered very serious injuries which could have killed him and our main priority is to find the person or people responsible. We will do that with the

concerns of the community and organisations at the forefront of our minds."